An FO that slipped my Mind

Okay, I've had a bit more to worry about then posting my knits but I feel bad since I like this sweater so much.



Pattern: Airy Wrap Around Lace Sweater (Ravelry link) from Fitted Knits
Yarn: Venezia Color by Lang Yarns
Needles: US 13
Notes: I lengthened the body by one cable repeat (this was done accidentally cause I'm a careless knitter) but the length helps the look.

I shortened both sides considerable since many people who had knit the sweater before complained that it created a sausage effect when two huge scarfs are wrapped around the waist. The longer side is long enough to cross over the front, around the back to the other side. The other side is half that crossing over the front only.

I also created a hole on the shorter side to thread the longer tie through. I did this by picking up 15 less stitches then the pattern called for and simply casting 15 stitches on in the middle of the pick up row so a gap would be formed.

When the sweater was finished and blocked I tried it on and the neckline was wonky so I crab stitched with a crochet hook from shoulder to shoulder to tighten the neckline and give it some more shape.

Since I modded the wraps I used less yarn then the pattern calls for and I still have 2 or 3 balls of this stuff lying around. The yarn is nice, not too scratchy and it doesn't shed like most mohair.

I'm happy with this sweater and I've already gotten compliments. It's just a little finicky to wear and I find myself adjusting it periodically during the day.

Here's a detail shot of the hole I created for threading the tie through

Where has Sticky Gone?

I'll be honest with you all, I'm sick. Well I was sick and now I'm getting better. I have had cancer. I was seemingly well out the outside thanks to what they call "mild treatment" which means I get to keep my hair and not look like a walking corpse, but I still haven't felt well in a long time. Before my last treatment I took a trip to Florida for some sun and relaxation. And yes I started a warm weather knitting project to bring with me. I forgot how annoying knitting with cotton can be but also how liberating it is to know that your project will be done in half the time because you don't have to knit full sleeves.

Here's some pics to distract you (I am knitting in one of them) and I'll have that hat pattern posted in no time.


I swear the ocean never fails to make me feel better

Playing with the macros setting on my new camera

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One of these birds crapped on my cousin

Turtle orgy!!

See I told you there would be knitting. The pattern is Lotus Tank from IK which is a free pattern if you join Knitting Daily

It's nice seeing bright colored flowers in March

It wouldn't be Florida without coconuts and palm trees.

Fiber Friday (And More Excuses)

Okay I finished the second test hat and my dad liked it so much he took it, its the same yarn as the first one only I went up one needle size (which is probably better.)

It doesn't fit him so well which leads me to believe that this hat is best suited for a woman's medium sized head, though it is knitted with a rather tight gauge so I guess one could just knit in a looser tension to make a larger size and the cables have a lot of stretch and give. I'm finished writing up the pattern and I promise I will type it up tonight.

In the meantime I'll distract you with pictures of yarn. Spindle spun Merino/Romney X about 1.1oz Sport/Dk weight 45 yards. Plied with gold thread and gold beads.





Did I mention how much I love the macro's on my new camera. I could have never taken this pics with the old one.



The new fly wheel for my Majacraft Little Gem arrived but I'm so busy with other things that I haven't gotten bit by the spinnning bug. I'm trying to finish sweaters before it's too warm to wear them but I honestly think that the Kauni is going to take me another year to complete. I'm like 1/3 done with the first sleeve, but I still have to steek and knit the second sleeve and then steek the sweater body and neck and pick up like a gazillion stitches for the button and neck band. My head hurts just thinking about it.

I'm almost 2/3 of the way done with a cropped cardigan knit out of some wonderful yarn I hand dyed, but it's another bulky yarn knit so I can't take credit for how fast it's going.



I need to start thinking about warm weather knitting/crocheting. I haven't even looked in the new spring interweave because I still have warm woolies to finish and I'm trying to stick to this yarn diet (which I have already cheated on but shhhh. Don't tell!) I bought some cotton yarn from Seaport knits for a crochet project.

I hadn't been to the new Seaport Yarn store front, and wow, it's like a million times better then the scary abandoned office of yarn occupied cubicles it used to be. There is actually someone sitting by the door when you come in and it's set up like a real store. The new location is like 2 blocks from the WTC path station which is dangerous because I may start making yarn detours on the way home. But I will not allow myself to do this until April because I really don't need yarn or fibers until I use what I've got.

Psychic Puppy

Madam Desdemona predicts a hat pattern will be posted here sometime in the near future.

She also says that the spirits are telling her that you have an ancient curse on your head and the only way she can remove it is to send her 100 milk bones.

I know you're probably thinking if Stickyfingers has enough damn time to dress her dog up and take humiliating photos then she has enough damn time to retest and post that pattern of hers. And well, you're right but a girl needs to have her fun!

Someone Explain to Me

Why in NJ there are like dozens of St. Patrick's Day Parades, none of which occur on St. Patrick's day?

It boggles my mind that the Irish get like 3 weekends worth of parades to celebrate a holiday that is best known for drunks and leprechauns.

That said, this weekend I participated in one of these superfluous parades. A friend of mine performs at children's parties as the Disney Princesses, singing songs and painting faces...The company she works for was contracted to send in all their numerous characters to sit on floats for the Jersey City St. Patrick's day parade. I planned on going out to watch the parade and to cheer for her.

Late Saturday night, about 12:30 AM my phone rings, it seems that one of the "Princesses" has gone MIA and they need a quick fill in, I agree to help out. I am assigned Princess Jasmine ,from the movie Aladdin, she is the princess who wears the least amount of clothing. I reluctantly agree knowing that the temperatures in Jersey City are due to reach a whopping 40 degrees with wind gusting up to 30 miles an hour.

For over 2 hours I smiled and I froze, and when all was said and done I ran home to thaw my body out and hopefully regain feeling in my toes. Here are some pictures of my public humiliation.


See I'm damn near naked!! (I'm wearing a body stocking so I have no belly button, I'm anatomically correct underneath.) Oh and look at those gloves, they are knitted, I couldn't have a post with zero crafts in it ya know.

Belle gets to wear an entire dress!

My charming prince, and yes I am wearing a totally pimp looking coat.

It's not an Irish parade without a leprechaun!

I have no idea what Ariel has to do with the Irish, although she does have red hair, maybe she's some sort of Celtic fish.

If you smile long enough your cheeks start to hurt.

The Irish Woman of the Year was conspicuously missing from the float which puzzled me.

Okay enough, I look a damn fool, enjoy my humiliation, I still can't feel my tootsies.

Poi Pattern

Here is a pattern for some practice Poi. I just started spinning poi and I didn't want to wait for the poi I ordered to arrive. If you want to learn more about Poi I suggest checking out this website.

For this pattern you will need about 200 yards of worsted weight yarn. I used caron simply soft (to be honest I had no idea how this pattern was going to turn out and I didn't care if I had to throw the yarn away) from my stash monster and a H sized crochet hook.

Poi Pattern

Handle and String
Chain 80 stitches (you will need to add more stitches if a 20 stitch loop is not big enough for your hands)
1st row: HDC (half double crochet) in 20th chain from hook, creating a loop where you will place your fingers later. HDC in each of the next 50 stitches leaving a tail of 10 sts left.
Break yarn

Poi Ball
You may want to mark your rows with a stitch marker. Just mark the first stitch of each round so you know where the next row starts.
Chain 4 stitches join to create a loop
Row 1: HDC into the loop 12 times
Row 2: HDC into first stitch to join the round, *2 HDC into the next stitch, 1 HDC into next stitch* repeat to the end of row (18 sts total)
Row 3: HDC into the first stitch and each stitch after (18 sts total)
Row 4: Repeat Row 2 (26 sts total)
Row 5: Repeat Row 3 (26 sts total)
Rows 6 & 7: Repeat the last two rows once more (39 sts total)
Row 8: HDC in each stitch to the end
Row 9: Repeat row 8
Row 10: HDC in first stitch, *Decrease 1 stitch by HDC the next two sts together, HDC into next stitch* repeat to end of row (26 sts total)
Row 11: HDC into the first stitch and each stitch after (26 sts total)
Row 12, 13, 14 & 15: Repeat the last two rows two times more (12 sts total)
Break yarn.

Stuffing the Poi. I stuffed my poi with some old jersey fabric to give it weight but make it soft enough so it doesn't hurt when I get whacked. I would not suggest poly fill because it is not heavy enough.

Once the poi have been stuffed attach the handle to the ball by taking the tail of 10 chain stitches and threading them through the open end of the ball. Draw through closing the opening and fasten with a good knot. Weave in the ends and voila.

I'm not the best crocheter and I'm sure I've messed up some of the terminology please feel free to post any errors or corrections you may find in the comments and I will correct my mistakes.

Here's a little video of the poi in action. Please ignore my "I'm concentrating" face.

Leaving You In Suspense

The pattern is still being written (and by written I mean translated from scribbles and markings into something tangible and legible to all.) Until it's ready amuse yourselves with this picture of yarn.
Spindle Spun (yes I still know how to use a spindle) 350 yards light fingering 2oz Merino/Tencel Blend



Oh and I had a great video of me frogging a sweater but blogger keeps rejecting the file so just picture me frogging a sweater and lamenting the idea that maybe my psychic gauge estimating abilities aren't really up to snuff.